Sunday, May 30, 2010

Gaza capitalist economics

On route to Gaza is presently a fleet of ships carrying humanitarian aid for the near-besieged Palestinians. The convoy of eight ships named Freedom Flotilla belongs to Insani Yardim Vakfi (Humanitarian Aid Association), a Turkish NGO. Around 500 activists are travelling with the ships.

Israel denies existence of any humanitarian crisis in Gaza. However, a UN Food and Agricultural Organization official stated that “Sixty-one percent of the Gaza population is food insecure”. The World Health Organization is concerned by rising malnutrition indicators - increased cases of stunting, wasting and underweight children - and continuing high rates of anaemia among children and pregnant women.

Yet even in Gaza the rules of capitalism reigns. Sarah Leppert, FAO’s communications adviser for the West Bank and Gaza Strip explained “There is a diverse range of foods available in Gaza; the problem is people do not have the means to purchase the food..."

Protein-rich foods such as meat and poultry are especially difficult for Gazans to afford. Families have resorted to coping mechanisms including borrowing money. A poverty survey conducted by the UN Relief and Works Agency shows that the number of Palestine refugees unable to access food and lacking the means to purchase even the most basic items has tripled since the imposition of the blockade in June 2007. Goods coming through the tunnels from Egypt sell at inflated prices and inaccessible to most Gazans.

Once more Capitalism's "Can't pay , can't have" prevails - even in the Gaza - and we can be rest assured that the wealthy Palestinians and Hamas high officials suffer little deprivation as they will have the necessary wherewithal.

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